Perhaps the most interesting change would be the panel's recommendation to
prohibit the use of tanning beds by people with Fitzpatrick skin type 1. People
with this very pale skin type (such as red-haired people with freckles) get
sunburns instead of tans when exposed to sunlight or tanning lamps.

The biggest recommended change is the panel's unanimous proposal to change
tanning beds' Class I device designation, the least restrictive classification
intended for devices that pose minimal risk to users or operators. Elastic
bandages and hand-held surgical devices are examples of Class I devices.

Half the panel supported making tanning beds Class II devices, which require
special assurances -- such as labeling requirements or mandatory performance
standards -- that they will not cause harm. Class II devices include X-ray
machines and powered wheelchairs.

The other half of the panel wants tanning beds listed as Class III devices,
which not only require special controls such as operator training requirements
but require premarket approval by the FDA. Class III devices include implanted
pacemakers and silicon breast-augmentation gels.

The panel also recommended other special controls:

Strengthening current requirements for protective eyewear

Equipping tanning beds with mechanisms that prevent their activation until
a customer acknowledges reading and accepting a series of warnings about indoor
tanning risks

A registry program for all tanning bed users, possibly supported by a user
fee

Collection of data on the irradiance put out by tanning beds, possibly to
be included in the user registry

Restricting tanning bed use by pregnant women and by people who take
certain drugs or use certain cosmetics that interact with UV light

Even stronger restrictions on tanning beds sold for in-home use

The panel said there was no need to separately regulate tanning beds that
are UV-A only, UV-B only, or a mixture of both.

Response to Panel's Proposed Tanning Bed Restrictions

Medical groups praised the panel's recommendations.

"The skin cancer and dermatologic communities came together and presented
compelling personal stories and rigorous scientific evidence demonstrating the
dangers of indoor tanning," Allan Halpern, MD, vice president of the Skin
Cancer Foundation, says in a news release. "The advisory panel made excellent
recommendations and now it's up to the FDA to take action."

The panel's recommendations are another blow to the tanning industry, which
just last week was hit by a 10% tax as part of the health care reform law.

The Indoor Tanning Association, which represents the 18,000 tanning salons
in the U.S., says it "respectfully disagrees" with the panel
recommendations.

In a statement provided to WebMD, the group says it feels that current FDA
regulations are sufficient to protect "the millions of Americans who use our
services each year."

"Industry standard practices already are far more stringent than the current
FDA regulations require," the statement says. "In fact, the U.S. tanning
industry abides by the strongest set of industry regulations found anywhere in
the world."

The Indoor Tanning Association says tanning salons already:

Provide customers with information on tanning bed risks via a signed
consent form

Require teen users to have a parent's signed approval

Train staff members to recommend tanning schedules tailored to each
customer’s skin type to avoid sunburn or overexposure